The debate around artificial intelligence development is intensifying as experts call for clearer rules to guide the technology’s rapid growth. A bipartisan coalition of researchers, former officials and public figures has released a framework called the Pro-Human Declaration, designed to shape responsible AI development at a time when policymakers in Washington have yet to produce a comprehensive strategy.
The declaration was completed shortly before a dispute between the U.S. Department of Defense and Anthropic, an incident that highlighted the absence of clear regulations governing AI development. Max Tegmark, who helped organize the initiative, pointed to a shift in public opinion. “There’s something quite remarkable that has happened in America just in the last 4 months,” he said. “Polling suddenly [is showing] that 95% of all Americans oppose an unregulated race to superintelligence.” The declaration warns that humanity faces a critical moment, where one path — described as “the race to replace” — could see machines gradually taking over jobs and decision-making, while the alternative focuses on AI development that expands human capabilities.
To guide safe AI development, the framework highlights 5 key pillars: keeping humans in control, preventing the concentration of power, protecting human experience, preserving personal freedom and ensuring legal accountability for AI companies. It also proposes strong safeguards, including a ban on superintelligence development until scientists confirm it can be built safely and with democratic approval. Other provisions call for mandatory off-switches for powerful systems and a prohibition on AI architectures capable of self-replication, autonomous self-improvement, or resisting shutdown.
The timing of the declaration has drawn attention as tensions around AI development continue to rise. On the final Friday of February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly labeled Anthropic a “supply chain risk” after the company declined to grant the Pentagon unlimited access to its technology. The designation is usually used for companies linked to China. Within hours, OpenAI signed its own agreement with the Defense Department, underscoring how the lack of clear policy is shaping major decisions in AI development.
Experts say the issue goes beyond a single contract. Dean Ball, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, told a newspaper: “This is not just some dispute over a contract. This is the first conversation we have had as a country about control over AI systems.” Tegmark compared AI development to drug safety regulations. “You never have to worry that some drug company is going to release some other drug that causes massive harm before people have figured out how to make it safe,” he said, noting that regulators require strict testing before public release.
The declaration also stresses protecting children during AI development. It recommends mandatory testing before deploying AI tools, especially chatbots and companion apps aimed at younger users. These tests would assess risks such as suicidal thoughts, worsening mental health and emotional manipulation. Tegmark argued that existing laws should apply to machines as well. “If some creepy old man is texting an 11-year-old pretending to be a young girl and trying to persuade this boy to commit suicide, the guy can go to jail for that,” he said. “We already have laws. It’s illegal. So why is it different if a machine does it?”
Support for the initiative crosses political lines, with signatories including Steve Bannon, Susan Rice and Mike Mullen. Tegmark summed up the shared perspective behind the declaration. “What they agree on, of course, is that they’re all human.” He added that when the future of AI development is debated, the focus should remain on protecting humanity’s role in shaping that future.
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